The company will suspend penalties and disconnections to assist those affected financially by the virus

Union photo by Ashley Duong
Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilites announced temporary policy changes that went into affect Monday, March 23. The changes are to provide assistance to customers financially affected by the coronavirus outbreak.Union photo by Ashley Duong
Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities will enact temporary policy changes to support customers affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Penalitiesm 24-hour disconnection noticies as well as diconnection for non-payment will all be suspended until May 13.

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By Ashley Duong, The Union

MT. PLEASANT — Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities is taking measures and making policy changes to assist customers who are financially affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

The company announced on Monday several temporary policy changes, which are currently set to expire on May 13, the end of the Winter Moratorium Period which has been extended from April 1.

The changes include suspending penalties on past due amounts, 24-hour disconnection notices, disconnection for non-payment as well as extending flexible payment agreements to commercial customers, according to the company’s news release.

The company also will be working to “help identify customer support programs” alongside the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities Organization and other government agencies, and plans to help customers “with energy saving and conservation actions to help reduce utility bills when possible.”

Even with the changes, the company is encouraging customers to continue making payments when able in order to avoid “building up large debt” that may be difficult to manage in the future.

“Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities recognizes the importance of supporting our customers that are adversely affected financially by business closures ordered by the State of Iowa, as well as, negative impacts to our customers and their families due to associated illness,” the company said of its decision to implement the policy changes.